ÉRE Connection

Our entire staff would like to wish you and your family a very happy holiday. The break is well-earned after the first four months saw hard work from the students, outstanding parent support, exceptional guidance from teachers and support staff, and tremendous volunteer support. This is truly a great school community.

I would like to take a moment to recognize the outstanding contribution Lena Tissen has made to École Rocky Elementary on the eve of her retirement. Mrs. Tissen has arrived early or stayed late for 26.5 years as caretaker at the school. While her retirement is well deserved, she will be most certainly missed on staff.

Congratulations to all the students for their production of a virtual Christmas concert that will be released Dec 21. There is nothing quite like seeing kids perform at Christmas time to help remind us of the true meaning of the holidays. A huge special thanks to our music director, Mrs. McLaughlin, for all her work coordinating the Christmas production.

Lastly, I know the past 21 months have been unpredictable, and at times, down-right rude. The one thing that has kept me grounded during these complex times is this school community. It is the persistence of this community to keep seeking solutions and the resilience to keep reaching out to those that need healing. While I don't know the timeline, I do know more predictable times are a-coming and we will gather again in the same room to applaud on a Christmas Concert. I know this is true because a school has stood on these grounds for 100 years ensuring our children will have greater opportunities throughout life. We will continue with vindictive commitment. Our Roots Run Deep.

As always, please reach out if you have ideas for growing the success at ÉRE. We are better together. All my best for a very prosperous 2022.

Tim Bowman

Principal

tim.bowman@wrsd.ca

(403) 845-3541

Here is it. . . the ÉRE Christmas Production featuring every class and a great opportunity to learn about holiday traditions throughout the world.

"Christmas Around the World" (46:33 min)

• 2:09 - "They're Celebrating Next Door" - Choir
• 5:19 - "RooRoo the Red Nosed Kanga" - 1/2K
• 8:40 - "The Festival of Lanterns" - 3/4F & 4K
• 12:57 - "Christmas in Our Hearts" - 3H & 3/4S
• 17:51 - "Happy Diwali" - 2S & 2U
• 21:07 - "Quand le Pѐre Noël vient me visiter" - KM & 1B
• 23:52 - "Danser Autour du Sapin" - 5O
• 26:29 - "Jabulani" - 5O & 5K
• 31:05 - "Feliz Navidad" - KW & 1G
• 35:25 - "The Lights on the Tree" - PreK
• 39:26 - "Joy" - Choir
• 43:04 - "Silent Night in multiple languages" - Everyone

Our longest serving staff member has announced her retirement.

Lena Tissen has worked at École Rocky Elementary so long, it wasn't even called ÉRE when she started. No matter the school name, the building is the same, and for 26.5 years, it has been cleaned and cared for by Mrs. Tissen. She is the reason the school shines a little brighter and it's heart beats a little warmer.

Mrs. Tissen has not only provided exceptional caretaking of the school, but she has formed marvelous friendships with the students, staff, and community. Her sense of humour and willingness to help anyone in need is widely known. Her talent show submissions (featuring her cleaning superpower) the past few years have been school favourites.

Mrs. Tissen arrived in Rocky Mountain House in the 1990's with her husband Egon. She grew up in Saskatchewan with her twin and 8 other siblings. As one of the oldest children, she learned to care for others, and this skill came in handy when Rocky Elementary was seeking a caretaker in 1995. After having various other careers, Mrs. Tissen decided to take the job to give herself 'something to do'. We are so glad she did.

With retirement now on the horizon, Mrs. Tissen looks forward to celebrating her 60th(!) wedding anniversary with husband Egon in the coming year.

Watch for a special interview with the very special Mrs. Tissen in our December ÉRE TV linked below.

ERE TV December 2021

Our school health has been excellent through November and December and has returned to a historically normal range as reflected in the following stats (pre-pandemic 2018/19 and current 2021):

• Dec 2018 - Absenteeism due to illness was 3.7% per day
• Dec 2019 - Absenteeism due to illness was 3.6% per day
• Dec 2021 - Absenteeism due to illness was 3.8% per day

Thank you to our entire school community for continuing to be vigilant in staying home when ill.

An additional health layer requiring all WRSD staff, volunteers, and contractors to be fully vaccinated for COVID19 or provide a negative rapid test from the previous 72 hours will be added January 5, 2022 as per the newly developed Admin Procedure 166A.

For volunteers coming into the school or working with students, please make yourself familiar with the Vaccination Status Procedures for Substitutes, Casuals & Volunteers in WRSD.

Click here for the entire WRSD 2021-2022 Health Guidelines for Schools.

The School Council meeting on Dec 2 had 13 participants. Meeting highlights included a motion to raise milk and hot lunch prices due to rising costs and a motion to set up a parent information night with Jo(e) Social Media. Full details can be read in the December 2021 Meeting Minutes.

Our next school council meeting will occur via video conference on Wednesday, January 26, 2022, 12 noon. You are invited to attend! School Council Virtual Meeting Link: https://tinyurl.com/ERESchoolCouncil password ERE

2021 - 2022 School Council & Society Executive:

• Chairperson - Vanessa Lobley
• Vice Chair - Shea-Lynn Wright
• Treasurer - Jeanette Plante
• Secretary - Heather Halladay
• Hot Lunch Coordinator - Amanda Leavitt

The School Council executive can be reached via email: ereparentcouncil@gmail.com

Hot Lunch orders for January/February will be open January 3-7. Hot lunches will resume January 17.

• to order, create an account at https://ere.hotlunches.net/
• Use the access code REHL
• Hot Lunches are available on Mondays and Thursdays

• Pre K 2021/ 2022 Calendar
• French ECS Calendar 2021/ 2022
• English ECS 2021/ 2022
• 2021/ 2022 Gr.1-5 Calendar

Dec 22 - Jan 4 - Christmas Break

Jan 5 - School Resumes

Jan 7 - Pizza with the Principals for December Award winners

Jan 24 - Skating starts 3H & 3/4S

Jan 26 - Skating starts 3/4F & 4K

Jan 26 - School Council, 12 noon

Jan 28 - Skating starts 5O & 5Kw

Jan 28 - Spirit Day: Crayon Day (Dress as one colour)

Jan 28 - ERE TV January

Jan 31 - No School for students

Our school Facebook page has ballooned to 529 followers (an increase of +349 over the last two years). We love telling our school stories so consider giving us a follow:

https://www.facebook.com/ecolerockyelementary

• Canadian Parents for French (CPF) December Newsletter
• We have a wide variety of skates and helmets that we can lend to students. If you can help us fill out a few gaps in our selections, we are seeking donations of size 10/11 figure skates & size 3-9 hockey skates.
  
• We currently have space in our preK 4 year old program for those interested in a January start.
• Free breakfast is served every morning in our front foyer 8:20 - 8:40 am. All students are welcome to grab a bite to eat.
• If your child will be absent from school, please connect with our Student Attendance Line by phone 1-855-756-2797
• Please use your child's agenda for writing notes to the teacher and communicating the after school plan.
• If at all possible, when paying for items like agendas, field trips or swimming, please pay through School Cash Online located at: https://wildrose.schoolcashonline.com/ This greatly reduces the chances of lost money or discrepancies in payments made.
• ERE School Website: https://ecolerocky.wrsd.ca/ Our school website is regularly updated with important dates, school newsletters, and useful links along with information about the school.
• Social Media - The school regularly updates our Facebook and Twitter accounts with good news stories and upcoming events. Please consider giving us a follow on Facebook: www.facebook.com/ecolerockyelementar and Twitter: https://twitter.com/EREPeace

• ÉRE Parent Handbook - many of the most commonly asked questions
• Newsletter Archives - September, October, November, December
• ÉRE School Website - ecolerocky.wrsd.ca
• ÉRE Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/ecolerockyelementary
• ÉRE Twitter - @erepeace

Email: tim.bowman@wrsd.ca
Website: https://ecolerocky.wrsd.ca/
Location: 4703 50th Avenue, Rocky Mountain House, AB, Canada
Phone: 403-845-3541
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ecolerockyelementary/
Twitter: @EREPeace